Pop Shots – A Look At The Top 10 … From 21 Years Ago

Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, this week I’m hopping into my time machine again, and this time I’m setting the coordinates to 21 years ago, to take a look at the Billboard Top 10 from this week back in 2004.

The heat of August in 2004 brought out the heat when it came to hip-hop and R&B, which occupied every spot in the Top 10. Being that this was also a time when I was interviewing mainstream artists, a lot of that Top 10 are names I remember sitting down with. In fact, I think I interviewed more than half the artists we’re about to revisit, one of whom gave us a dance I could finally do!

So let’s get into this exploration in chart history! Of course, since this is Pop Shots, you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

1. Terror Squad – Lean Back

 

Fat Joe and Remy Ma were in the top spot this week back in 2004 with the aforementioned dance even I could actually do – “Lean Back.”

OK, maybe it wasn’t technically a “dance,” but it was the closest I’d come to being able to dance since the Macarena, and the Macarena didn’t have this bangin’ a beat, or nearly as many classic video vixens.

Oh, and for the record, speaking from firsthand experience, yes some of the parties really were that good.

2. Juvenile feat. Soulja Slim – Slow Motion

 

Juvy could spit a hell of a verse, but he’s most know for being able to make the ladies lose their inhibitions, and shake their asses. For this, I say thank you for your service to humanity, Juvenile!

3. Lil’ Flip feat. Lea – Sunshine

 

Lil’ Flip gained notoriety with “Game Over,” a song that featured Pac-Man sounds that would eventually land him in court. That wasn’t “Game Over” for his career, however. Instead, the sun shined on him another day with “Sunshine.”

Pairing a rapper with a female R&B singer was an ‘00s staple, and while “Sunshine” may not be remembered as well as Ja Rule and Ashanti’s collabs, or Nelly and Kelly Rowland, it fits in perfectly with them.

4. Kevin Lyttle feat. Spragga Benz – Turn Me On

 

If you turn on “Turn Me On” you can still, to this day, fully expect a party to start. It’s a good time soca song, and it’s the only soca song to have reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Any chance we could bring this kind of vibe back in 2025? I think the world needs it!

5. Christina Milian – Dip It Low

 

When this song first came out I played the heck out of it on my old indie radio show. I’d like to claim some sort of magical prescience for seeing the potential in it, but it didn’t take a genius to realize the song was gonna be huge. The fact that the video was hot also didn’t hurt!

Man, I miss the days of R&B hotties like Christina Milian. Christina Milian, and …

6. Ciara feat. Petey Pablo – Goodies

 

Ciara debuted with a bang with “Goodies,” and unlike Rebecca Black, she knew exactly which seat she should take – the one where we could see her gyrate!

This really was the last – or at least the most recent – great era of R&B, and we didn’t know how good we had it. So many jams, so many good times.

7. Usher – Confessions Part II

 

Raw honesty, and a fantastic beat, had us all singing about having a baby on the way with a mistress. You KNOW you’ve made a heck of a song when that happens!

Incidentally, it was kinda awkward when you were caught singing along to this one at a stoplight. There were definitely some looks.

8. Nina Sky feat. Jabba – Move Ya Body

  

And now back to our regularly scheduled program of fun R&B that could fill a dance floor.

Nina Sky was a bit of a response to Lumidee, who was accused of singing poorly (she didn’t have a great voice, but her entire career was rushed after she hit with “Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)”).

The twins of Nina Sky could sing, and “Move Ya Body” was … well … a body mover!

9. Nelly feat. Jaheim – My Place

 

Nelly had a plethora of hits, but I have to admit, I don’t remember “My Place” all that well. Perhaps I was too busy staying up until 4am to watch “Tip Drill” on BET Uncut.

As an aside, Nelly’s music has aged far better than anyone could’ve possibly imagined.

10. Alicia Keys - If I Ain’t Got You

 

While much of the R&B of the era brought us to the physical euphoria of the dance floor, Alicia Keys brought us to emotional heights.

Listening to “If I Ain’t Got You” today, it sounds just as good as it did 20+ years ago. Ms. Keys truly gave us a timeless classic.

That’s all for this edition of Pop Shots, but come back next Monday for more shots on all things pop.